The Dental Hygienist works as part of the Dental Clinic of the Brooklyn VA Medical Center. The incumbent provides a wide variety of interventions which contribute to the overall healthcare of Veterans. The work requires a professional knowledge of the field of Dental Hygiene and the Biomedical Sciences that relate to Dentistry. Basic Requirements: a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) b. Education. Associate Degree or higher in an accredited dental hygiene program. This program must be accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). c. Licensure. Applicants must be currently licensed to practice as a dental hygienist with a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. d. Certification. Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in their field. Accredited dental hygiene programs contain curriculum addressing radiologic procedures which will meet the requirement for certification as dental radiographers. (1) Exception. Non-certified applicants, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental hygienist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B) for a period not to exceed 2 years. Failure to obtain certification during this time period may result in termination of employment. (2) Loss of Credential. A dental hygienist who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Dental hygienists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Creditable Experience (1) Knowledge of Current Professional Dental Hygienist Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (also referred to as "clinical competencies") associated with current professional dental hygiene practice. Evidence of such experience includes experience in private practice, U. S. military services, local/state/federal health care or educational facilities .(2) Quality of Experience. Experience as a dental hygienist in private practice, U.S. military services, local/state/federal health care or educational facilities must be verified with the practitioner or the supervising officers. Experience satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice which may be paid or non-paid employment as a dental hygienist. (3) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a dental hygienist is credited according to its relationship to full-time work week. For example, a dental hygienist would receive 1 week of full-time credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work. GS-9 Dental Hygienist (Full Performance Level)(a) Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. (b) Assignments. Employees at this level serve as staff dental hygienists at the full performance level. It is expected that they provide direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision from a dentist. Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: patient medical assessment (e.g. medical/dental history, social history, vital signs, full periodontal assessment and charting), disease and treatment management recommendations, denture care, scaling and root planning, radiographs/image interpretation, patient education (e.g. post-procedure, tobacco cessation, caries and perio-disease prevention), behavior management, management of stable medically compromised patients (including risk factors), instrument sharpening, inter-service communication. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-8 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to assess the patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities for safe patient care. 2. Ability to assess the impact of patient's medical and dental condition on maintaining oral health, recognize age-related changes in individual patients, adapt patient environment, and maximize patient's physical comfort. 3. Skill in detecting plaque and calculus, dental abnormalities/pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure. 4. Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application. 5. Knowledge of hygiene procedures in order to explain the process and indication, complications and expected treatment outcomes for each. 6. Knowledge of proper usage of dental radiography equipment, radiation safety, assessment of proper image capture and interpretation of films. 7. Skill in educating patients and caregivers on periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene practices, parafunctional habits, and effects of illness, addictions, medications and tobacco on the oral cavity. References: VA Handbook 5005/73, Part 2, Appendix G-3.The full performance level of this vacancy is at the GS-9 level. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. ["The Hygienist plans, coordinates, and conducts preventive oral health programs for various patient groups, develops and modifies instructional methods, and develops methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the Preventive Dentistry Program. The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the supervision of the General Dentist or Periodontist and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. Major duties and responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to: Customer Service: Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers, and the public. Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns Provides service recovery Patient care: Sets up the operatory for planned dental procedures and clean dental units for timely turnover. Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently. Obtains patient's vital signs (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter, temporal temperature) as needed. Provides routine oral prophylactic care to include application of fluoride solutions Provides gross debridement, deep scaling, root planning, and curettage procedures Cleans removable and fixed dental prostheses Manages the dental recall system, referring the patients to the dentist for additional care when indicated Applies sealants and desensitizing medications Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays Utilizes topical anesthetics and administers local anesthetic agents if certified to do so Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols Patient Education: Provides patient education appropriate to the veteran's needs and oral condition Prepares and provides individual and group oral health care instruction to inpatients, outpatients, Dental Imaging: Is capable of taking images that are of diagnostic quality, accurately oriented, and properly exposed Uses dental imaging safety techniques with proper infection control, and minimize the need for retakes Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization: Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up Ensures operatory instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards Ensures instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care Clerical Functions: Places return to clinic orders to assist dental patients in scheduling appointments Assists in filling in gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and missed appointments Assists in annotating clinical findings, treatment plans, treatment provided, or schedule notes in the patient's records Assists with other clerical duties if the hygiene schedule is open Information Management: Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPM with written and verbal information Follows computer security regulations Patient Safety - the Hygienist shall: Modifies care as appropriate for patient's age and abilities Modify position if patient cannot self-transfer; reposition patient as needed Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients Participates in patient identification and 'time out 'per Joint Commission requirements Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress Employee Education - the Hygienist shall: Complies with Employee Education requirements Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Has knowledge of OSHA policies of Safe Work Practices including the hazard Communication Program, Blood Borne Pathogens Standards, Medical Waste Management, Fire and other Emergency Evacuation procedures Has knowledge of regulatory and advisory agencies of the healthcare field. Performs other duties as assigned. Note: Current Federal Employees are not eligible for the recruitment incentive. Federal employees maybe eligible to receive a relocation incentive if they're relocating more than 50 miles. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday: 7:30 am to 4 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement: Dental Hygienist Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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